Lubricator for traction motor



March 15, 1960 W. J. SOCKELL, SR

LUBRICATOR FOR TRACTION MOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March l1, 1959 WVENTOR 4e/.50 c/rEL L ,5R

March 15, 1960 w. J. socKELL, sR

LUBRIOATOR FOR TRAOTION MOTOR 2 Seets-Shee Filed March l1, 1959 INVENTOR WJSoC/ru SR.

ATTORNEY (United StatesPatent icc ggd MM5, 60,

LUBRIcAroR Fon TRAcTroN Moron william J. socken, sr., Raleigh, N.c. l Application March 11, 1959,'seria1 No. 198,639

4 claims. (c1. sos-132) This invention relates to an improved pad for supplying a lubricant from a reservoir to the journal of a traction motor bearing.

Traction motors, utilized for driving diesel locomotives, for example, are supported on the driving wheel axles. Due to track irregularities, said axles are subjected to an unusual amount of vibration when the locomotive is in motion and which is transmitted to the traction motor supporting bearings. Considerable difficulty has been encountered in the ,past in providing adequate lubrication for the journals of these bearings and considerable loss in time and money has occurred in the past due to repairs and replacements necessitated by irnproper or inadequate lubrication of these journals.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the, present invention to provide an improved applicator or lubricant supplying pad especially adapted for lubricating the journals of tractionmotor supporting bearings and which, i

due to its unique construction, will provide adequate lubrication for the journal at all times irrespective of the Speed at which the locomotive is traveling and the amount of vibration being transmitted to the bearing from the journal.

Still atfurther object of the invention is to provide an improved pad which will effectively function as a cushion to absorb,` much of the vibration which would otherwise be transmitted from the journal to the pad support.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a pad, the journal contacting surface of which will not become glazed, to'thereby assure maximum lubrication to the journal at all times. l

n Various other objects and advantages of the invention will lhereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through a portion of a traction motor supporting bearing and a part of the journal on which the bearing is mounted;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3--3 of Figure 2; f

Figure 4 is a front elevational view showing the pad removed;

Figure 5 is an edge elevational view of a part of the pad, and

Figure 6 is a perspective view, on a somewhat reduced scale, of another part of the pad.

. Referring more specifically to the drawings, the applicator or pad in its entirety and comprising the invention is designated generally 8 and includes an elongated strip of coarsely knitted fabric 9 which is preferably formed of a mixture of cotton and wool, and a resilient block or core, designated generally 10.

One end of the fabric strip 9 is loosely wound or rolled to provide a hollow roll 11 preferably composed of three convolutions 12 which are secured together by rows of stitching 13 which extend around the roll 11. The roll 11 has a. relatively large rectangular opening 14 extending from end-to-end therethrough `in which the core 10 snugly fits. Said core 10 is formed of ay resilient cushioning material, preferably having the characteristics of`a sponge. The sponge 10 is preferably formed of neoprene or other material which is resistant to oils and chemicals and which will therefore not be injured by the lubricant with which the, pad or applicator 8 is saturated. The other `end 15 ofthe fabric strip 9 constitutes Va wick which extends from the bottom vedge 16 of the roll 11. The resilientor spongeLlike block or core 10 is of substantially rectangular cross Section and has a bore 17 extending centrally therethrough.

The applicator or pad '8 is especially adaptedrfor use with a conventional pad holder, as illustrated in Figures' 1 to 3, wherein a pad holder 18 is shown disposed in a reservoir 19, forming a part of a castingl 20. which isv secured to the frame of the traction motor, not shown, except for a portion of the motor suspension bearing 21 in which the wheel axle 22 is rotatably mounted. A part of the periphery of the axle or journal 22 is in an exposed position relative to the reservoir 19 through a large opening 23 of the bearing or bushing 21.

A'cover plate 24 is secured to the casting 20 by fastenings 25 for closing an opening 26 of said casting. A

bracket 2,7 is secured to the inner side of the cover plateV 24 and extends therefrom through the opening 26 downwardly into the reservoir 19. The bracket 27 has spaced; ,t flanges `28 extending therefrom toward the upper portion of the opening 23. A pin 29 extends through upper portions of the flanges 28 and through upper ends of a pair of lever arms 30 for swingably mounting the upper portions of said lever arms in straddling relation to the flanges 28.

The holder 18 is of channel shape cross section and includes a substantially flat outer wall 31 and substantially parallel side walls 32 which extend from the wall 31 toward the axle 22 and opening 23. The roll 11 and core` 10 fit within the holder 18 with the ends of said roll and core disposed adjacent the side walls 32, as bestseen in Figure 2. A sleeve 33 extendsthrough the bore 17 of the core 10 and has its ends swaged in aligned openings 34 of the walls 32. The lower portions of the lever arms 30 loosely'straddle the sidewalls 32 of the holder. A pin or rod 35 extends through and has va relatively close fitting engagement in the sleeve or tube 33. Said rod or pin has restricted ends 36 projecting from the ends of the tube 33 through cushioning bushings 37 which are mounted in and extend through openings 38 in the lower portions of the lever arms 30, to which said l rod ends are detachably connected in a conventional manner. through aligned notches 40 in the upper edges of the walls 32 to prevent the holder 18 from pivoting on the rod 35. A rod 41 extends through the lever arms 30 and through slots 42 in the flanges 28 to limit movement of said lever arms in the holder 18, toward and away from the opening 23. One or more torsion springs 43 engage around the pin 41 for urging the arms 30 and holder18 toward the opening 23.

With the applicator 8 attached tothe holder 18, as previously described, the plane of the roll 11 and core 10 are dispo'sed substantially parallel to the holder wall 31 and one side 44 of the roll 11 is disposed against the inner side of the wall 31 and between said wall 31 and a substantially parallel adjacent side 45 of the core 10. The other side 46 of the roll 11 is disposed in the opening 23 between the opposite face 47 of the core 10 and a portion o'f the periphery of the axle 22, and with the pad 8 thus disposed, the wick 15 extends downe` A rod 39 extends through the lever arms 30 andv vasaart'voo the lopen bottom of the .holder 18 to adjacent .the bottom o'f the reservoir 19, so that a substantial part of the Y I.

wick 15 will be submerged 'fin the oil or.other lubricant 48 `which,fis.;containedi1i.said reservoir; The. 'holderu V1'8 is-;spring'biased1oward the'. opening '23/ andV axlezZrsonhat the :outeryfsnrface'r of"the Esidea46 of. the iron 11 is yieldably held agsinstfafparmf the that the roll V1'1 .theref-is maintained .saturated with the lubricantrf48 'supplied thereto byth wickY 15j-and the core is likewise saturated withgthe oil or rlubricant. Due to the coarselyknitted texture .of the istrip 9, the vouter surface 49 of the roll side-*46, lwhich tis engaged by the vaxleY 22, will not become glazed -after long contact with the axle, -so that the `padrwil'l retain its `ability to Vsupply adequate :lubricant-'to the journal;

As previously stated, substantial vibration occurs 'be-Y tween `the axle 22 and bracketr27, especially when the shape crosssectionfincluding a substantially "at back wall and 4spaced .substantially parallel side walls, means extending through said side walls and through said bore for mounting the `core and roll insaid holder, said roll having a rear side disposed against the rear wall of the holder and a forward side projecting outwardly from the opposite open forward side of the holder vand adapted to bear against a peripheral'portion of a revolving journal for compressing andv deforming the core whereby said last mentioned side of the l.roll will conformto the curvature of the journal surface engaged thereby, and a wick depending from said rIland adapted to be submerged in a lubricant for supplying the .lubricant .by .capillary action to the roll.

2. A lubricator as inclaim l, said roll'comprsing one end portion of an'elongated strip of a coarsely knitted fabric and comprising a plurality of convolutions, stitching securing said roll convolutions together, and said wick constituting the Yunsecured opposite end of fthe fabric strip.. 3. A lubricator for a traction motor bearing comprise '5 ing a pad ofrectangular cross section including a :re-

silient block forming `the padv core and a wrapping disposed around said ycore comprising several .convolu- Vtions of fabric material, said convolutions being con` nected together by stitching for `confining the core within locomotive is traveling at high speeds. While the springs 43 arerintended to' absorb such vibration normally `trans-k mitted from the axle to the holder 18, the .pad `10,` 11 is sufficiently soft and resilientto absorb V`a major` part` f of such vibration, so that the amount .of swingingmov'ement of the holder 18 and arms 30 relative to :the bracket 2.7 is reduced to a minimum. Thus, wear on said-'parts i is likewise minimized. In addition, rthecontraction andA expansion of the roll 11 and c ore 10, caused by vibration of the axle 22, produces a pumping action tending to function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined n by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: .Y l. A lubricator for a traction motor bearing'comprising a resilient block forming a core, a fabricroll wound around said core, said core being elongated and,`

the wrapping, said core having a bo're extending longitudinally therethrough, a holder of channel shape cross section having a substantially `dat rear Wall, substantially parallel side walls'and an` open front, means extending through said bore and -through saidside walls for mounting the pad in the holder with oneside of the pad bearing against said Vrear wall and the other side of the pad protruding from the yopen front of the holder and supof rectangular .cross section and having a bore extend-V ing longitudinally therethrough, a holder of channelY ported thereby in aposition to yieldably bear against the peripheral portion of an axle, said last mentioned pad side being yieldably heldin conformable engagement with the axle periphery by deformation of the compressible core, and a wick, forming an extension of an outer'convolution of thewrapping, extending downwardly from the pad and holder andV adapted to be submerged ina llubricant for supplying thelubricantby capillary actionto the pad. l l

4; A lubricator for a traction motor bearingvas in claim 3, said core being formed of a sponge-like absorbent material resistant to oils and chemicals.

References Cited inthe liile'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,640,742 Harkenrider s June z, s

2,801,138 e Harkenrider ,-..-u July 30, 1957 

